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The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations (βOLA/DOALOSβ, βthe Divisionβ) is now accepting applications for the 2026 sessions of the Strategic Needs Fellowship and the Ocean Governance Fellowship for Small Island Developing States (SIDS Fellowship).
I. UNNF Strategic Needs Fellowship
Objectives
The objective of this Fellowship is to assist developing States, particularly least developed countries (LDC), small island developing States (SIDS), and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) in addressing strategically important and time-sensitive issues in ocean affairs and the law of the sea. This includes the implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), its implementing agreements, including the BBNJ Agreement, and related instruments, as well as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 and other related SDGs.
Fellowship structure, curriculum and deliverables
The Fellowship consists of an approximately four-month training programme at OLA/DOALOS, at United Nations Headquarters in New York. A highly customized curriculum is developed by the Division for successful candidates, tailored to the highβpriority needs identified in their applications and supported by their Nominating Authorities, with a view to building the capacity of Government officials to assist their States in effectively addressing those needs. The curriculum comprises in-person training sessions, scenario-based exercises, group discussions and workshops delivered by United Nations staff and visiting experts.
The deliverables of the Fellowship Programme include assignments, a research paper prepared by the Fellows, and the development of an ocean governance matrix.
The Fellowship is scheduled to take place from early September to mid December 2026.
Eligibility criteria
This Fellowship is open to Government officials who hold positions in their Administrations relevant to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, and who have limited background in this field. The eligibility criteria can be found here.
The Fellowship is fully funded and includes a monthly stipend, medical insurance, and round-trip economy class airfare. Further details about the Fellowship conditions and financial support are available on our Fellowship Conditions webpage.
Application process
Candidates must complete the application package available in the “Apply Now” section on the UN-Nippon Foundation Programmes website (https://www.un.org/oceancapacity/content/apply-now). To apply, candidates must:
Complete the required application forms
Personal History and Proposed Research/Study Programme Application Form
Nomination Form
Online form
Submit the application forms, along with a copy of their passport, to the following email address: [email protected], with the email subject line “2026 UNNF Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Strategic Needs Fellowships”.
NOTE: This yearβs application forms allow candidates to submit a single application for the UNNF Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Fellowship (for SIDS nationals only) and for the UNNF Strategic Needs Fellowship. Eligible applicants may apply to one or both Fellowships but will ultimately be selected for only one Fellowship.
The deadline for submitting the complete application package is 22 March 2026. Applicants should familiarize themselves with the eligibility requirements and use the application forms made available on the website to apply for the Programme. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Awards will be communicated individually to the selected candidates and subsequently posted in the News section of the Fellowship website by the end of May 2026. Eleven Fellowships will be offered for the 2026 session of the Strategic Needs Fellowship.
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II. UNNF Ocean Governance Fellowship for SIDS
Objectives
Tailored to address the special circumstances of SIDS, along with the diverse challenges, opportunities and needs across different regions, this Fellowship aims to increase the capacity of Government officials from SIDS to effectively implement ocean governance and international legal frameworks. In particular, this Fellowship aims to strengthen human capacity to support the development of ocean governance frameworks necessary to:
Effectively implement UNCLOS, its implementing agreements, including the BBNJ Agreement, and related instruments;
Tackle the triple planetary crisis (climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution); and
Implement the SDGs, especially SDG 14, with a focus on developing sustainable blue economies, addressing environmental impacts (particularly the devastating impacts of ocean plastic), building resilience to climate change, and giving consideration to gender aspects.
Fellowship structure, curriculum and deliverables
The Fellowship consists of an approximately three-month training programme at OLA/DOALOS, at United Nations Headquarters in New York. A customized curriculum is developed for successful candidates, targeting the challenges highlighted in their applications and supported by their Nominating Authorities. The curriculum comprises in-person training sessions, scenario-based exercises, group discussions and workshops delivered by United Nations staff and visiting experts.
In addition to a number of activities developed to address their specific needs, SIDS Fellows will be integrated into the training activities designed for Strategic Needs Fellows, offering them additional opportunities for learning and networking.
The deliverables of the Fellowship Programme include assignments, a research paper prepared by the Fellows, and the development of an ocean governance matrix.
The Fellowship is scheduled to take place from early September to early December 2026.
Eligibility criteria
This Fellowship is open to Government officials from SIDS who hold positions in their Administrations relevant to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, and who have limited background in this field. The eligibility criteria can be found here.
The Fellowship is fully funded and includes a monthly stipend, medical insurance, and round-trip economy class airfare. Further details about the Fellowship conditions and financial support are available on our Fellowship Conditions webpage.
Application process
Candidates must complete the application package available in the “Apply Now” section on the UN-Nippon Foundation Programmes website (https://www.un.org/oceancapacity/content/apply-now). To apply, candidates must:
Complete the required application forms
Personal History and Proposed Research/Study Programme Application Form
Nomination Form
Online form
Submit the application forms, along with a copy of their passport, to the following email address: [email protected], with the email subject line “2026 UNNF Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Strategic Needs Fellowships”.
NOTE: This yearβs application forms allow candidates to submit a single application for the UNNF Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Fellowship (for SIDS nationals only) and for the UNNF Strategic Needs Fellowship. Eligible applicants may apply to one or both Fellowships but will ultimately be selected for only one Fellowship.
The deadline for submitting the complete application package is 22 March 2026. Applicants should familiarize themselves with the eligibility requirements and use the application forms made available on the website to apply for the Programme. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Awards will be communicated individually to the selected candidates and subsequently posted in the News section of the Fellowship website by the end of May 2026. Ten Fellowships will be offered for the 2026 session of the SIDS Fellowship.
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OLA/DOALOS would greatly appreciate the broad dissemination of this call for applications through relevant networks to ensure a large and diverse pool of candidates for both Fellowship Programmes.
The Programmes are committed to achieving gender balance and geographical diversity among participants. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided, upon request, to applicants with disabilities to support their participation in the Programmes.
For more information, please consult the brochure for the Strategic Needs Fellowship here, and the brochure for the SIDS Fellowship here.
For more information on the United Nations-Nippon Foundation Capacity-Building Programmes, please visit: https://www.un.org/oceancapacity/UNNF
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